Iginla is prepared to become a Bruin

The future Hall of Fame forward told reporters that he understands the angst he caused in Boston by spurning a trade with the Bruins and electing to be traded to Pittsburgh.

"At the time, Pittsburgh was really -- they were rolling," he said on the conference call. "They are two great organizations and [the Penguins] were just on a real roll."

Boston fans all know how that ended. The Bruins eliminated the Penguins in four games in the Eastern Conference Finals.

"We did make the Final Four. We would have liked to have gone further," Iginla said. "[We] just ran into the Bruins."

Boston announced the signing on Friday. Iginla has a one year contract that pays a base salary of $1.8 million with incentives that could total $4.2 million.

In introducing Iginla to the New England media, Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli sounded excited to have the forward on his roster.

"Jarome is a Hall of Fame forward. He's a player that we've coveted from before and nw we're fortunate to have him join our mix," Chiarelli said during the conference call. "Jarome, based on talking to him, is highly motivatted and wants to win. That's our M.O."

Iginla reached out to Boston after Pittsburgh ran out of salary cap space to re-sign him.

Iginla told reporters that he got glowing reports on Boston from players like Andrew Ference, Chuck Kobasew and Mark Recchi, all of whom wore the spoked-B.

And as to waiving his no-trade clause to play in Pittsburgh instead of Boston, Iginla said that the decision was not an easy one.

"I know there's going to be questions and stuff as far as choices and things like that. [Boston] was always a team -- not being in Calgary -- that if I were to move I would want to play for.

"I know that sounds maybe a little different than at the deadline not going to Boston. It was a touch decision and it wasn't one I took lightly."

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